A first-ever archive of the Chinese population of Manchester has been added to Manchester City Archives, following a year-long project between the city's Chinese Centre, the city council and MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry).

Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Mike Amesbury said: "Everyone knows about the restaurants, but they probably don’t know that the Chinese Arch was the first in Europe and the New Year’s parade was the first in the UK.

“Manchester is a real leader for the Chinese community in Europe and the archive will give people a better insight into this amazing history.”

The Archive has been funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £50,000, and contains stories and facts from 55 interviews with members of the Chinese community.

Among them is Master Chu, who has trained and funded the iconic New Year’s dancing dragon team for nearly 40 years, the fourth-eldest outside China.

In addition to the archive, the project has created an exhibition, now showing at MOSI, which will run until January 15 2012.

Josie Sykes, Community Development Officer at MOSI, said: "It’s time the Chinese community is celebrated in Manchester and I think people will be surprised and interested in their contribution to the city.”